Clemson Volleyball Signs Nebraska Standout

July 14, 2004

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson volleyball team has signed a Nebraska standout to a scholarship, announced Head Coach Jolene Jordan Hoover. Anna Vallinch, a sophomore libero from LaVista, NE, will join the Tiger team in August. She is the seventh addition to the 2004 Clemson team, joining Laura Boozer, Sue Eckman, Courtney Lawrence, Leslie Mansfield, Brittany Ross and Meghan Steiner.

“Anna has excellent platform skills,” said Hoover. “She comes to Clemson with a year of collegiate experience, including NCAA Tournament play. She is a great playmaker in the backcourt and we expect her to solidify the libero position for the next three years.”

In 2003, Vallinch competed as a member of the University of Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team, helping lead the Lopers to a 31-7 overall record, a regional championship and a berth in the Elite Eight of the Division II NCAA Championship Tournament. She tallied 361 digs as a freshman, averaging 3.31 digs per game in 109 appearances. A 2003 graduate of Papillion LaVista High School, Vallinch was a two-time team co-captain and earned four varsity letters in volleyball on one of the top prep programs in Nebraska. She helped lead her high school team to three consecutive district championships and Class A state titles (2000-2002). Vallinch was named to the 2003 Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Classic Team and was inducted into the PLHS Hall of Fame for volleyball. She also competed as a member of the Nebraska Junior club volleyball team that advanced to nationals all four years she played. In 2003, the Nebraska Juniors finished fifth in the nation in the 18’s division. A two-sport athlete in high school, Vallinch also served as the basketball team captain and competed at the state tournament from 2001-2003.